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KLLM Transport Services is proud to present our new Driving Academy in Lancaster, TX. This amazing new facility offers students not only classrooms and state of the art hands on training but also provides them with a full service dining room and well-appointed dorm rooms for their enjoyment and relaxation.

Andre’a Gaston had faced challenges before enrolling in truck driver school – mainly being a mother to two daughters and a son.

Driving a manual shift transmission turned out to be a close second in that category, but now she’s certified and bona fide to take on the road.

“At first, I thought my age would prevent me from doing it and the fact I’m a female. I had not driven a stick shift vehicle in my life, and I’m 44!,” Gaston said recently during a ceremony in which Hinds Community College received $220,000 from the Walmart Foundation to support the training of more women and underserved populations who enroll in the driver’s academy at KLLM Transport Services.

“My entire family is proud of me for taking this big step and doing what no one thought I could do,” Gaskin said.

The Grenada native credited instructors at the firm’s driving academy for helping her secure her commercial driver’s license.

“I had my days where I had trouble. But they’re determined. They stick with you and make sure you get it. Anyone who wants this job, it can be done. You’ll have the backing for it from every single teacher and instructor.”

The money, part of a larger $100 million commitment by the retailer to bolster workforce training, education and career pathways for retail workers nationwide, will support training women and underserved populations who enroll in the driver’s academy at KLLM Transport Services. The money comes to Hinds via the Jackson-based Foundation for the Mid-South.

“Walmart supported us in this plan to expand opportunities to all folks, but gave us a challenge to do it forwomen,” said Ivye Allen, president of the foundation.

Diane Smith, one of Gaston’s driving instructors, began driving trucks nearly 20 years ago and ran her own business.

“At first, I didn’t want to be a truck driver because of what people would think of me,” Smith said. “But I did it to provide for my family.”

She started her career at KLLM and was eager to return to KLLM for the opportunity to help other women earn their commercial driver’s license and become financially secure.

Hinds’ partnership with KLLM to train truck drivers at the company’s Richland headquarters and boost their ranks began in fall 2012. KLLM handles the training. Hinds handles the coursework. The facility itself opened in March 2014.

“Basically, one of our goals at the company is to make sure we have a person in all 3,000-plus trucks we currently have,” said KLLM Vice President Kirk Blankenship.

Hinds President Clyde Muse said the funds enhance the partnership’s initial goal of helping train the state’s workforce and taps into a growing segment of the student population at Hinds.

“Now, with the Walmart Foundation and the Foundation for the Mid-South, we have a secondary goal, and that is to increase the number of female drivers,” Muse said. “Our student body now consists of 65 percent females, so there’s great fertile ground out there.”

A mix of grants and other investments from Walmart and its philanthropic foundation are part of the Opportunity Initiative, rolled out earlier this year. It will spread the funds over five years to help retail workers across the industry advance careers and achieve greater economic mobility.

“The big focus is on women’s empowerment,” said Tice White of the Walmart Foundation. “So to hear this provides support to women in retail and transportation sectors and is so important to our community.”

KLLM President and CEO Jim Richards, along with Director of Visit Mississippi Malcolm White show off one of the beautiful new trailers displaying the beauty of Mississippi.

JACKSON, MS – This is a news release from Visit Mississippi

Visit Mississippi and KLLM Transport Services, Inc., unveiled a new fleet of trucks, showcasing Visit Mississippi advertisements, at 9 a.m. today, Sept. 2, 2015. The unveiling and press conference, which took place at KLLM headquarters in Richland, was followed by a Blessing of the Fleet and toast.

Seeking new and innovative ways to showcase Mississippi’s story, Visit Mississippi and KLLM recently forged a progressive public/private partnership in which KLLM’s trucks display Visit Mississippi’s brand imagery. The trucks will be seen across the U.S., with routes spanning the country. Approximately ten wrapped trucks will be released for the term of one year.

Depicted on the trucks are four images: kayakers on the Mississippi river, campers on the Gulf Coast’s Deer Island, one of Mississippi’s premier golf courses, and the “Birthplace of the Blues” Mississippi Blues Trail marker.

“People across the nation will get a glimpse of our great state’s beauty every time they pass a KLLM truck,” Director of Visit Mississippi Malcolm White said. “We hope these portraits will spark an interest in those who have never had the chance to experience Mississippi for themselves, encouraging them to come and hear our whole story. We very much appreciate the opportunity to work with such an innovative, up-and-coming transportation company as KLLM.”

Visit Mississippi is also rolling out a digital media campaign to accompany the partnership. Titled “Spot the Truck,” the campaign invites the public to share pictures of the Mississippi-wrapped trucks on Twitter and Instagram, tagging @visitms and using the hashtag #spotthetruck, in order to gain entry to the sweepstakes offering a trip for two to one of the destinations featured on the truck wraps.

KLLM was the first nationwide, temperature-controlled carrier to utilize satellite communications fleet wide. All KLLM trucks, as well as all lease trucks, are linked to the Jackson, Miss., headquarters through a satellite communications network. This system allows for monitoring the status and location of every KLLM truck on the road at any given time.

KLLM, in keeping with the latest technology, also utilizes Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), one of the most valuable tools used by the transportation industry. This technology allows KLLM to transmit and receive information electronically. EDI covers everything including billing, status notification, notification of receipt of payment, bills of lading; load tendering, service and performance standards and third-party messaging.

Today, KLLM offers OTR, regional and dedicated services to a major portion of 48 states and Mexico on a daily basis. KLLM’s entire fleet of trailers is refrigerated, serving the needs of both dry freight customers and those requiring temperature controlled services.

RAYMOND – Hinds Community College and KLLM Transport Services are boosting their training capabilities, thanks to a $250,000 gift from the Walmart Foundation that will help diversify the ranks of the trucking industry.

The money, part of a larger $100 million commitment by the retailer to bolster workforce training, education and career pathways for retail workers nationwide, will support training women and underserved populations who enroll in the driver’s academy at KLLM Transport Services. The money comes to Hinds via the Foundation for the Mid South.

Hinds Community College and KLLM Transport Services have partnered together since fall 2012 to boost the number of truck drivers in Mississippi. KLLM handles the training. Hinds handles the coursework. The program is housed at the KLLM Driving Academy in Richland, which opened as a new facility in March 2014.

A mix of grants and other investments from Walmart and its philanthropic foundation are part of the Opportunity Initiative, which will spread the funds over five years to help retail workers across the industry advance careers and achieve greater economic mobility.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS–(ENEWSPF)–August 24, 2015. There is a critical skills shortage for drivers with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in the United States. Consumers will see higher costs on everyday products if the projected 330,000 new trucker jobs needed by 2020 aren’t filled. If the capacity in the trucking industry is not increased overall, it could eventually slow down the economy.

To help provide a solution for this shortage, Prairie State College (PSC) recently entered in to a partnership with KLLM Driving Academy, Inc. (KLLM), to implement a collaborative effort to deliver Class A CDL training. The partnership was announced during a special meeting of the PSC Board of Trustees last month.

The agreement combines the resources of PSC and KLLM to address the needs of individual students, as well as the service and industry sectors in today’s economy. It also ensures that Illinois has an adequate supply of highly skilled truck drivers who have a CDL. The vision is to preserve the competitiveness and economic opportunity of both Illinois and our nation, in response to rapid technological change and increasing global competition.

Through support from KLLM, students in the program will receive scholarship opportunities to incur no out-of-pocket tuition costs, stipends during the training, and a six-week paid internship if they agree to one year of employment with KLLM at the conclusion of the training.

The program is designed for the 21 and older student with no commercial driving experience, and includes four weeks of school, a two-day company orientation and the six-week paid internship. Students will earn their CDL license within 4 weeks of training totaling 160 hours. Refresher training also is available for individuals who wish to renew their CDL license and obtain employment with KLLM.

“KLLM is very excited about the partnership we have created with Prairie State College. This partnership will be very beneficial in the training of individuals seeking to begin a career of being a professional truck driver,” said KLLM President and CEO Jim Richards.

“Our curriculum will provide individuals with the skill set to be successful, and in addition, upon completion at the Academy, we will also offer them employment with one of the largest, most successful Temperature Control Carriers in North America.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the people in the PSC community and beyond who are interested in obtaining their CDL,” said PSC President Dr. Terri L. Winfree. “Through this program, students will be supplied with a marketable skill, a valuable college and industry credential and job placement. We are pleased to be part of such a unique partnership with KLLM,” she said.

May 7, 2015 – KLLM Transport Services recognized as Truckload Carrier of the Year

Transplace, a leading provider of transportation management services and logistics technology, today announced the winners of its Carrier of the Year Awards. The Carrier of the Year Awards recognize transportation service providers for strong, collaborative relationships, consistent high performance and exemplary on-time service. Transplace made the announcement during its Carrier Symposium, held in conjunction with its 13th annual Shipper Symposium taking place this week in Dallas.

“Transplace’s Strategic Carrier Management Program is designed to uncover growth opportunities for our carriers and further strengthen those relationships, while supporting exceptional service for our customers,” said Ben Cubitt, senior vice president, engineering and consulting at Transplace. “With this year’s awards, we are pleased to recognize carriers that represent the top one percent of our carrier base across all lines of business for the exemplary work they’ve done over the past year.”

At the Shipper Symposium, Transplace presented Russell Wooten, KLLM National Account Manager, with the Truckload Carrier of the Year Award pictured below.

John Lower, director of strategic carrier management for Transplace, added, “Selection criteria for these awards are data-centric and based on companywide, quantitative data as well as survey feedback from the supported customer. Specific areas of emphasis in the selection process include on-time service, tender acceptance, claims, EPA SmartWay partnership and ease of doing business factors such as responsiveness, customer service, and the accuracy and timeliness of invoicing and status updates from the carrier via EDI.”

On February 10, 2015, Kraft Foods Group held its annual Carrier Conference at the Hyatt Rosemont in Rosemont, IL. During this conference, Jack Liles, Chairman, was presented with Kraft’s Co-Carrier of the Year Award for 2014. Kraft representatives communicated, KLLM’s top management commitment, participation in one or more of Kraft’s Captaincy programs, KLLM’s innovation, high level of service, flexibility, and seamless integration of a major truckload acquisition, were key criteria for KLLM’s selection as Co-Carrier of the Year.

KLLM participates in Captaincy (single source) programs for Kraft out of their facilities located in Joliet, IL and Coshocton, OH.

The mission of Stewpot Community Services in Jackson, Mississippi is to provide food, clothing, shelter and nurturing care to children, elderly, disabled and poor persons in the community.

KLLM is proud to play a part, each year at Christmas, in Stewpot’s Neighborhood Children’s program. This program provides no cost afterschool care to children through the 5th grade giving them a safe place to go after school. The Stewpot staff pick up the children from school each day, take them to Stewpot for afterschool care, and then drive them to their homes at the end of the day. The staff help the children with their homework and provide, encouragement, structure and recreation in a loving environment.

Since 1998, KLLM’s annual Stewpot Christmas Party for the afterschool care program is a Christmas Season highlight at KLLM. Early in November KLLM employees and vendors start donating to the Stewpot Christmas party. KLLM officers, directors and employees work hard to make it a success. The kids are provided a decorated party room, Christmas food and drinks, and Santa Claus makes a surprise visit during the party. Santa gives one Christmas gift to each child.

Additional gifts are provided for the children. Parents provide a list of items (shoes, coats, clothing and toys) needed by each child. KLLM employee and vendor donations insure these items are provided. These gifts are placed in a bag for each child, picked up by the parents and given to them on Christmas morning.

In addition, KLLM presents to Stewpot a check to be used for its children’s program. In 2014 the check was in the amount of $10,000.00.

On January 14, 2015, Curt Metzler, Sr. Manager of Global Transportation for Alcon Laboratories presented Jim Richards, President and CEO and Travis McCain of KLLM Transport Services / Frozen Food Express (FFE) with Alcon’s Global Carrier Partner of the Year Award for 2014. KLLM / FFE was selected based upon service quality and performance, loss and damage events, customer service, claims resolution and overall commitment to partnership. Each year Alcon recognizes and honors carriers that have consistently exceeded the transportation and logistics demands set forth by the pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Alcon has a nearly 70-year heritage built on trust. Founded in 1945, Alcon has grown from a small ophthalmic shop to the second-largest division of Novartis, one of the most successful and respected healthcare companies in the world. Our long history of delivering innovative and high-quality products that enhance people’s lives and vision has helped Alcon become the global leader in eye care, and has helped establish our strong reputation throughout the global eye care community.

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About KLLM

For 50 years, KLLM has been transporting perishable commodities for satisfied customers throughout the country. KLLM offers Over-The-Road, Regional and Dedicated temperature-controlled services throughout the United States and Mexico.